Playing electric guitar without an amp

1. You live in an apartment and don’t want to disturb your neighbors.
2. Your parents or other family members live with you, and you want to play without disturbing them.
3. After purchasing your electric guitar, you were unable to afford an amp.
4. Maybe you are just starting and don’t want others hearing as you practice.

These are all excellent reasons to want to play the electric guitar without using an amp.  There are, however, better solutions that will allow you to play your electric guitar without being too loud.

If you can only afford a guitar, there are a couple of inexpensive options to try while you wait.

Below are some common questions and solutions to help you practice anytime, anywhere, without disturbing the peace.

Can you play electric guitar acoustically?

If you are a beginner, It is ok to play your electric guitar acoustically while learning the basics.  All of the techniques you will be learning can be practiced and played without an amplifier.

Find a quiet practice area so you will be able to hear the acoustic sound of the guitar.

Focusing on developing your skills instead of the sounds coming out your amp is a great way to approach your learning.

Of course, you are going to experiment with your amp, but at least you will have a system in place to practice regularly.

The idea is to develop habits that will allow you to progress and build confidence as you learn.

Can you play an electric guitar without an amp using headphones?

Plugging headphones into your output jack will not allow you to hear your guitar.  You must first run it through a guitar headphone amp ($30 – Up) or a Multi-effects processor ($150 – Up).

A headphone amplifier is a compact, portable guitar amp that transfers your guitar sound straight through headphones.  They are perfect for playing late night sessions when the volume is an issue. You can also connect a music player so you can play along with your favorite music.

The Vox amPlug 2 Headphone Guitar Amp will help you practice without disturbing your neighbors or housemates.  They come in a variety of configurations such as the AC30 G2, Blues, Classic Rock, or Metal. All of these headphone amps come with a selectable mid-cut, as well as onboard chorus, delay, and reverb.

Vox amPlug AC30 G2 Headphone Guitar Amp Features at a Glance:

• The improved analog circuit provides clear and present tone
• Three amplifier modes for a tonal variety
• New folding plug mechanism rotates 180 degrees to fit any guitar
• Auto power off function conserves battery life
• Nine selectable effects (3 choruses, 3 delays, 3 reverb)
• Aux input for jamming along with any audio player
• Play anytime, anywhere with up to 17 hours of battery life
• Requires 2 AAA batteries

These headphone amps are an affordable option to the practice amp and headphone alternative.

Can you play an electric guitar without an amp using a multi-effects processor?

A multi-effects processor is another way you can get some power to your headphones.  A processor is a good investment because once you have an amplifier, you can use your processor for the added effects. These processors will vary in size and cost.

If you are on a budget and want something to power your headphones the Line 6 Pocket POD is a great solution.

• 300+ Presets — Including exclusive rock star presets with unrivaled tone
• 32 Amp Models, 16 Cab Models — Mix and Match amps and cabs to create your unique sound
• 16 Effects — Built-in in a set of effects tweaked to perfection
• Chromatic Tuner — The built-in tuner can be set to mute for those on-stage tunings between songs,
• CD/MP3 Jack — Jam along with your favorite songs, Portable Design –Weighs just over 6 ounces! Only 5 x 3.25 x 2.5 inches in size
• USB Connectivity — Edit your presets on the computer with FREE software from Line6

Plug your electric guitar into the input, plug your headphones in the direct / phones jack, turn it on and you are set!

Can you plug headphones into a guitar amp?

Practice amps usually have a headphone jack that allows you to hear your amp in your headphones. Just plug your electric guitar into your amp and then connect your headphones into the output jack of the amp.  The amp will transfer the sound directly to your headphones.

The only sound outside of your headphones will be the acoustic sound of the electric guitar.

If you want to play along with a backing track or an actual song, you’re going to need the following items

1. Headphones – I like the kind that covers the entire ear. You can find a functional set for $20 and up.
2. A “Y” splitter cable that splits into two separate lines. One for your amplifier and one for your music playing device.
3. Plug one side of the cable into the amp and the other into your device playing your music.

Can I connect my guitar to my stereo?

If you want to play your electric guitar and you don’t have an amp, you can use your stereo.   Plugging your guitar into the auxiliary input on your stereo will amplify the sound.

You will need a headphone jack to RCA cable and a 3.5mm Stereo Jack to 1/4″ Stereo Plug Adapter.

1. Plug your headphone jack to RCA cable into the RCA inputs of your stereo.
2. Connect the 3.5mm Stereo Jack to 1/4″ Stereo Plug Adapter.
3. Then Plug in your guitar and play.

You can use this same method with a boom box.

Can you play an electric guitar without an amp through a computer?

If you have an electric guitar with no amp or stereo, you may use your pc or laptop. Below are two easy and quick ways to amplify your electric guitar.  Using software, you can plug your electric guitar into your computer and replicate the sounds of different amps.  Then play at the lower volume using the speakers on your computer.

DIRECT AUDIO-IN CONNECTION – Connect your 1/8 TRS cable into 1/4 headphone jack plug.  Then plug your electric guitar into 1/4 headphone jack plug.  Lastly, connect the 1/8 TRS cable into your pc/laptop audio-in port.

USB GUITAR-CABLE JACK – Connect your USB Guitar Cable 1/4 inch jack to your electric guitar. Then plug the USB cable into your pc/laptop USB port.

The sound you will get with this method will be a clean, low powered guitar sound. Adding a preamp, sound card, or recording software will allow you to change the sounds of the guitar. Computers are not suitable solutions for live performances.  They are best for mixing and recording tracks using software like Audacity, Pro Tools, or GarageBand.

Connecting your electric guitar to an amplifier

Although the solutions above will work, using an amplifier is your best choice for playing and hearing your electric guitar.

If you bought a guitar without an amp, my suggestion is to save your money and get an amp.  You can use some of the inexpensive methods above until you can afford the amp.

Connecting your guitar to your amp is straightforward, but if you want to do it quietly, you must follow this order.

1. Plug the amplifier into the wall outlet.
2. Connect your instrument cable to the input of the amplifier.
3. Stretch out your instrument cable and plug it into the output jack of your guitar.
4. Before turning your amp on, check to make sure your settings are correct on your amp.
5. Make sure your volume knob is turned down on your electric guitar.
6. Turn on your amp and slowly turn the volume knob up on your guitar.
7. Fine tune your amp settings and you are ready to play.

Remember you can play at a lower volume or wear headphones to keep your housemates and neighbors happy.   If you are new to playing the guitar check out my article “The first ten steps to teach your child how to play the guitar” for some necessary steps to take to get started playing the guitar.

Thank You & God Bless